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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry ROCKED on MSNBC!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 

While Dr. Rachel Maddow is on vacation, Professor Melissa Harris-Perry of Tulane University in NOLA is guest-hosting at 9pm on MSNBC.

Melissa_harris_perry_pic

If you've seen Melissa as a contributor on several MSNBC shows as well as other media outlets, you know that she KNOWS HER STUFF.

It is a joy to see Melissa sitting in the Big Chair as if she's done this for years--smooth, knowledgeable, gracious, and just ON IT. Melissa will be sitting in for Rachel all week. Tune in!

So many smart ladies,  so little time!

Follow Melissa on Twitter: @MHarrisPerry and visit her website for more information, including her work as a columnist for The Nation, and her upcoming book, Sister Citizen, available for pre-order on Amazon.

 

 

Posted via email from The Black Liberal Boomer Blog

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Lifestyle | Retail design venue pops up | The Detroit News



I LOVE to report on positive economic/business news in Detroit and especially in booming "new economy" areas like Midtown. This is an incubator-type opportunity for entrepreneurs to jump-start their businesses at little or no retail space cost. This space is the historic (and preserved) 71 Garfield building near Woodward and the Medical Center. The funding is a mix of self-generated startup funds and Federal monies.

Click the link below for more information...

Lifestyle | Retail design venue pops up | The Detroit News

Monday, July 25, 2011

Monday Milestone: New Cruise Ship Dock Opens in Detroit



On Monday July 18, 2011, a new public dock and terminal opened up on the Detroit River near Cobo Hall. The dock is capable of handling cruise ships, and the first ship, the 184-foot Grande Mariner, which originated in Cleveland, docked and her passengers disembarked to sightsee in Detroit. 

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, U.S. Senator Carl Levin, U.S. Representative Hansen Clarke, and Detroit Riverfront Conservatory CEO Faye Nelson were among those present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Building of the 21,000 sq. ft. terminal was begun in 2004 and was financed with a combination of federal funds and grants; the project was spearheaded by Senator Levin.

In addition to having space for the docking of larger ships, the Dock and Terminal will also have meeting rooms with a view of the river, state-of-the-art maritime technology capability, and a command room for visiting ships.

The project is part of an overall plan to extend the RiverWalk, to expand and improve Cobo Hall, and enlarge Hart Plaza.

In the last 19th century and early 20th century, cruise ships regularly visited Detroit as a port-of-call. Now in the 21st century, Detroit is a cruise ship destination once again.


Tuesday, July 19, 2011

2009 Recovery Act Grant Enables Romulus MI Co to Hire 1,000+


U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu visited Michigan on Monday to support the state's development of electric car batteries and the growth of clean-energy jobs.

The Obama administration is supporting the development of electric vehicle batteries and components through the Recovery Act, which has provided about $2 billion in grants to advanced battery manufacturing.

A123 Systems, which makes lithium-ion batteries for the transportation, electric grid and commercial markets, received a $249 million grant to open its Livonia and Romulus electric vehicle battery plants.

During Monday's visit, officials noted that A123 Systems recently hired its 1,000th Michigan worker.
"A123's success is a great example of how we are working with industries to create jobs, strengthen our manufacturing industry and help our auto companies to keep in the global market," Chu said.

The plants are capable of producing batteries for about 20,000 to 30,000 vehicles a year. The company hopes to create about 15 percent of the world's lithium-ion batteries used for transportation by 2015, said Jason Forcier, vice president of its Automotive Solutions Group.
Before the Recovery Act was passed in 2009, the United States made only 2 percent of the world's advanced batteries. Chu said the country should be capable of creating about 500,000 electric vehicle batteries a year by 2015.


From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110719/AUTO01/107190343/U.S.-Energy-Secretary-Chu-tours-A123-Systems’-Michigan-battery-plant#ixzz1SaWgkaY3

Detroit Interfaith Free Health Fair Tuesday July 19 2011

People of different faiths working TOGETHER for the betterment of ALL in the City of Detroit--at a MUSLIM Mosque and Community Center. THIS IS what America is SUPPOSED to be about...UNITY and RESPECT for ALL, not knee-jerk hatred and division.


Detroit — About 100 Jewish, Muslim and Chaldean physicians and health care professionals will host an interfaith health fair from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Muslim Center Mosque and Community Center, 1605 W. Davison.

The event provides free medical screenings for residents. It is organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan.
For information, call (248) 642-2649 or email scrane@jfmd.org.


From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110718/METRO/107180331/Briefs--Detroit-interfaith-health-fair-to-offer-free-screenings#ixzz1SZ4FNDOg

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Developer says Whole Foods deal shaping up | The Detroit News

Whole Foods coming to Midtown soon? Eastern Market alreay open on Tuesdays! Avalon Bakery already in Midtown. Hey Detroit: Let's eat some healthy foods!

Columnists | Developer says Whole Foods deal shaping up | The Detroit News

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Shop Detroit Eastern Market on Tuesdays!


Yes, fresh produce and plants--locally grown and available right here in the "D"!

Tuesdays 11am-7pm
July 12 through September 27

Eastern Market Corporation is pleased to announce the pilot season of "Detroit Eastern Market Tuesdays!" We are excited to for this opportunity to generate additional revenue for our vendors while providing our community with a convenient fresh food access point.  
"Detroit Eastern Market Tuesdays" will feature a sampling our historic Saturday Market experience though the inclusion of farmers, flowers, produce dealers, specialty products, and prepared-food vendors. In addition, "Tuesdays" will be a weekly community celebration including special events highlighting the agricultural, social, culinary, and artistic treasures of our city, region, and state.
EM Tuedays Logo
We are happy to offer our shoppers many of the same convenient services as our Saturday Market, including the Eastern Market Bridge Card ProgramDouble Up Food Bucks, educational events, culinary demonstrations, and community outreach opportunities.
Come shop, eat, play, and join us in our new Tuesday adventure!  
"Detroit Eastern Market Tuesdays" will begin July 12 and run through September 27, from 11am - 7pm exclusively in Shed 2 (corner of Russell St. & Winder St.)

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Detroit: 1 of the TOP 100 Great Things about America! Yes, Detroit!




This information was gleaned from The Detroit News, Fortune Magazine, and Money Magazine.

Last Updated: July 01. 2011 3:17PM

Fortune ranks Detroit No. 14 on list of '100 great things about America'

Santiago Esparza/ The Detroit News

Detroit — Fortune Magazine's July 4 issue extols 100 great things about America, and Detroit is ranked 14th on the list of things that we hold dear about our country.
For the second consecutive year, Fortune has selected things about the United States it believes makes it great.
This year, Detroit is ranked No. 14 for its "rise, fall, and — we hope — rise again."
Detroit is sandwiched between Caterpillar construction equipment at No. 13 and the Kindle electronic reader at No. 15 on the list.
Opportunity was ranked No. 1, followed by the country's interstate freeway system and the Sears Tower.
No. 98 on the list is the television show "Jeopardy," followed by the Pulitzer Prize and the movie "National Lampoon's Vacation."

To see the entire list, visit money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune.
sesparza@detnews.com
(313) 222-2320

Monday, July 4, 2011

It's Independence Day!

The 1991 SuperBowl Rendition of "The National Anthem"
by Whitney Houston is one of the best ever.





There are many different meanings, symbols, and histories of Independence Day here in America, and in Detroit. Let's explore a few.

Detroit was founded in 1701 by French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac as a fort along the Detroit River.

Detroit is a French word meaning strait. For example, in French one would refer to the Bering Strait as
Détroit de Béring.

In the case of Detroit, Michigan the label
détroit applies to the waterway that drains the waters of Lake Huron into Lake Erie. Today we refer to that waterway as three distinct parts: the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River.

The entire region of southeastern Michigan and southwestern Ontario had been referred to as Detroit since the 1600s, when French explorers first discovered the area. The full name was le Détroit du lac Érié.

The French pronunciation of "Detroit" is close to "Day-twah"; but you'll usually know a non-Detroiter by his/her pronunciation: "DEE-troit", putting the accent on the 1st syllable. We Detroiters, however, know that Detroit is pronounced "De-TROIT", putting the accent on the 2nd syllable.

In keeping with our French heritage, you'll also recognize Detroit "newbies" when they hilariously mangle the names of some of our French-named streets: St. Antoine, Livernois, Gratiot, DuBois, Rivard, and especially Cadieux!

The original occupants of Detroit, and of all of America for that matter, are the First Nations, Indigenous Peoples, or Native Americans. Although in Canada and the United States, the original tribes have recognized sovereignty while at the same time being citizens of their respective "new" countries, they are still waiting for their own "independence" (as they define it) from those who occupy their lands.

Famed 19th-century abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who was also active in the Women's Suffrage Movement, gave a moving now-famous speech on July 4, 1841 outlining why it was difficult for slaves and African-Americans to celebrate American Independence Day.

Many present-day African-Americans celebrate their emancipation from slavery as Juneteenth, which is widely recognized as the approximate date of June 19, 1865 when the last slaves in Galveston, Texas finally received word of the Emanicipation Proclamation (two and 1/2 years after it took effect on January 1 1863). Today, Juneteenth not only celebrates that date, but also emphasizes African-American education and achievement.

American Independence from the British is celebrated annually on July 4th, the day in 1776 that the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence. Although the citizens of Philadelphia, the capital of the United States at that time, celebrated "July 4th" one year later, it wasn't until after the War of 1812 that observing American Independence on "the 4th" became common.

Americans have celebrated Independence Day throughout our history with picnics, parades, fireworks, and important events such as the swearing-in of new naturalized citizens. Friends and families barbeque, hold contests and races, wave flags, sing, or listen to patriotic speeches. By the 1870s, the Fourth of July was one of America's most important holidays. The "4th of July" became a legal national holiday in 1941. John Philip Sousa's famous "Stars and Stripes Forever" can be heard everywhere American Independence is celebrated.

Whatever you will be doing on July 4th, remember those who gave the "ultimate sacrifice".








Boston Pops "Stars and Stripes Forever" July 4th, 2007